BARTON - ON - SEA HAMPSHIRE

INTRODUCTION TO BARTON ON SEA THE GEOLOGY Thank you for enrolling on our fossil hunting event. The Barton Beds are totally representative of a marine environment. The clays were deposited at the bottom of The fast- eroding coastline at Barton on Sea a warm, marginal sea shelf, close to land during the provides a fantastic location for collecting fossils Eocene epoch. from the Barton Beds, which are comprised of Eocene clays and sands of approximately 40 million years in age. The Barton Clay here is about 30 metres thick and overlain by the Chama Sands and Becton Sand. The The site is famed for its fossils of more than 600 changes in sea level are clearly seen and represented different types of shells, which represent a time by various layers found within the Barton Clay. There when Briain was bathed in a climate not are 10 beds in total, indicating shallow, near-shore and dissimilar to modern Spain. Other common deeper off-shore conditions. The presence of wood and fossils include shark an ray teeth, turtle bones plant material indicates the nearby land during and carapace and fish remains. deposition.

The cliffs between Barton-on-Sea and Highcliffe The shells are quite exquisite and often resemble is highly fossiliferous and the sandy beach here modern tropical shells. Their preparation requires no makes it an ideal location for children. Climbing more than gentle brushing and a coating of a dilute the crumbling cliffs is not recommended but at solution of PVA: water at a rate of 1:3, which will beach level (and even among the tourist sunbathers!) the low clay cliffs and slippages preserve the shell for years to come. provide ample opportunity for the collector. C Collection requires little effort. Walking east from the car park, toilets and restaurant, the fossils UPPER BARTON BEDS can be gently prised from the clays. The eroded cliffs often leave the fossil standing MIDDLE BARTON BEDS proud, ready for collection. A small amount of preparation, with an old, dry toothbrush to LOWER BARTON BEDS gently remove any clay and sand, is all that is required. WHAT FOSSILS MIGHT YOU FIND? Below: Shark and ray teeth are found in the cliffs but also on the beach, particularly in the At any fossil hunting event, you cannot be accumulations of fine shingle. guaranteed to find fossils. The frequency of fossils depends on the rates of erosion of the cliffs, the weather and of course, if others have already scoured the site beforehand!

However, gastropod and bivalve shells (see photos below) are a very common finds. Preparation is easy and the fossil will require nothing more than a dry clean with a toothbrush (preferably an old one!)

We hope you enjoy your day at Barton on Sea. Please visit our website for further events which might be of interest to you at https://ukafh.com/ Our book, with over 50 other sites across England & Wales, can be purchased at £16.95 here: http://www.ukge.com/en-GB/A-guide-to-fossil- collecting-in-England-and-Wales__p-3439.aspx